BOOKS ON BIRDS.* WE propose to include in one short
notice four books which treat of birds from different points of view. The first before us deals with all British birds. A new handbook of British birds finds many competitors already in the field; but there are also probably more persons than ever to whom Mr. J. Lewis Bonhote's Birds of Britain will prove the kind of book that is wanted. We do not know whether Mr. Dresser chose a hundred plates from his great work oil European birds to illustrate Mr. Bonhote's text, or whether Mr. Bonhote was employed by the publishers to write a hook to accompany the illustrations. Nor does it matter, though, of course, when the illustrations are limited it is easy to point out the claims of birds whose portraits have been omitted. The plates from Mr. Keulemans's well-known 'drawings are reduced in size, but very nicely printed in colours, and, as far as they go, form an attractive feature of the book. Mr. Bonhote is an excellent and trustworthy ornithologist. He deals with every species on the British list, and the text contains the information which the ordinary person requires, and varies in length from a few pages to a few lines only in the case of the stragglers. It is up to date, for the breeding of the Scandinavian form of the blue-headed wagtail in 1906 in Sussex, and many other recent matters, are not omitted. Mr. Bonhote could have contributed a much more valuable book to the literature of British birds had he wished. As it is, he has, on the whole, extremely well discharged his task.
The next book before us, Adventures in Bird .land, is by Mr. Oliver G. Pike, who has established a reputation as a writer and lecturer on popular ornithology. He is one of those who have abandoned the gun in favour of the field-glass and the camera. He wishes to persuade others to do likewise, and tells some atrocious stories of the discreditable doings of collectors. He recommends the Goerz glasses, and the last chapter of his book deals with the technicalities of bird. photography, and gives practical advice to those who desire it. Mr. Pike writes simply, but pleasantly enough, describing his successes and failures in various parts of these islands to which he made excursions with his camera.
Though similar in subject matter, Birds of the Loch and Mountain, by Mr. Seton P. Gordon, is written with mud' greater literary skill than the work mentioned in the preceding paragraph. Mr. Gordon's photographs are admirable, and reproduced in such a fashion as to maim a most attractive though slender volume. He treats of some two dozen species of birds which haunt the Scottish highlands. The grouse, the capercaillie, and the ptarmigan are selected as the 'game birds ; the ring-ouzel, the dipper, and the willow-wren are among the passerine
• (1) Birds of Britain. By .I. Lewis Bonhote. With 100 Illustrations in Colour Selected by H. E. Dresser from his "Birds of Europe." London : A. and C. Black. (9)s. net.] —(2) Adventures in Bird-land. By Oliver a. Pike. Containing 4 Photogravures and 90 Photographs taken direct from Nature by the Author. Together with a Coloured Plate and 100 Pen Sketches from Nature by E. Richmond Paton. London : R.T.S. • [Gs. net.]—(3) Birds of the Loch and /fountain. By Beton P. Gordon. London : Cassell and Co. s. ed. net.]—(4) The Feathered Gem. of New England. By Walter H. Rich. • With Illustrations by the 'Author, London : G. G. Harrap and Co. Ins. nets] birds; the peregrine and the golden eagle represent the raptores. On each there is an essay, with some personal observation and much feeling for the pleasures which the field-naturalist enjoys. The plates of the golden eagle include an extremely interesting series showing the growth of the young from the ages- of eight days to nine weeks. There are also many charming photographs of Highland scenery, very well chosen and well reproduced.
We may notice lastly a book by an American sportsman, Mr. Walter H. Rich, on The Feathered Game of New England. The writer describes himself as a "man whose nature study has been conducted in the open and mostly over a gun-barrel." Under the title of game we have accounts of nearly a hundred species, which comprise not only ruffed grouse and the like, but ducks, waders, phalaropes, rails, geese, and coots. The style is of that vivacious and exuberant kind which we should expect of an American sportsman. Much of the information is gained from personal experience. The plates are very numerous, accurately and minutely drawn by the author himself. They are with one exception uncoloured, and though 'Without artistic merit, would be of the greatest service in recognising an unknown bird.
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